Into the blue: the Vibration Isolated Television (VIT) frame is shown suspended over the moonpool. The instruments attached to the VIT frame are used to locate and guide the drill string visually into the reentry cone. The VIT frame opens up to “cup” the drill string and hold it loosely in a shock-corded suspended collar. Together they are both lowered to a few meters above the seafloor. The ship’s dynamic positioning system (DPS) uses GPS and sonar to guide the drill string to the reentry cone. Once a visual sighting has occurred, the DPS operator and the Driller coordinate to gently guide the drill string into the cone. The ship is positioned above the cone at a water depth of 4711 m (15,456 ft), or 2.9 miles below! (Credit: Richard Arculus & IODP) [Photo ID: exp351_051] Back to expedition photos.